A terraced megalithic site of columnar basalt in West Java – the centrepiece of Hancock’s "Ancient Apocalypse".
Natawidjaja et al. (2023) claimed construction phases reaching back 16,000–27,000 years, supporting a lost Ice-Age civilisation.
The 2023 paper was retracted in 2024 by Archaeological Prospection after review found the radiocarbon dates came from soil with no demonstrated link to human activity.
We present both views respectfully and link to the original work so you can judge for yourself.
18 Mar 2024 · Gunung Padang, West Java, Indonesia
Wiley and the journal retracted the 2023 paper. An investigation found that the radiocarbon dates came from soil samples with no artefacts or bone, so they do not date human activity. The authors disagreed with the retraction.
Site guide: Gunung Padang · Graham Hancock · Source: Retraction notice, Archaeological Prospection ↗; Gunung Padang (Wikipedia) ↗
20 Oct 2023 · Gunung Padang, West Java, Indonesia
Natawidjaja et al. published radiocarbon dates from soil in drill cores. They argued the hill is a pyramid-like structure whose oldest phase dates to 25,000–14,000 BCE.
Site guide: Gunung Padang · Graham Hancock · Source: Natawidjaja et al. 2023, Archaeological Prospection ↗
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British author and former Economist correspondent whose books Fingerprints of the Gods, Magicians of the Gods and America Before argue for a lost Ice Age civilisation. He presented Netflix’s Ancient Apocalypse and hosts tours in Egypt, Turkey (Türkiye) and Peru/Bolivia in 2027.
